A+E Interactive » Fleet Foxeshttp://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei
Bay Area Arts and Entertainment BlogFri, 13 Feb 2015 21:27:43 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1Review: Bridge School Benefit 2009http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2009/10/25/review-bridge-school-benefit-2009/
http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2009/10/25/review-bridge-school-benefit-2009/#commentsSun, 25 Oct 2009 10:54:13 +0000Jim Harringtonhttp://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2009/10/25/review-bridge-school-benefit-2009/By Jim Harrington Neil Young just can’t please everybody – not that pleasing the masses has ever been the 63-year-old Woodside rocker’s top priority. When he fills the Bridge School Benefit lineup with ringers – guys like Eddie Vedder, Dave… Continue Reading →]]>By Jim Harrington
Neil Young just can’t please everybody – not that pleasing the masses has ever been the 63-year-old Woodside rocker’s top priority.
When he fills the Bridge School Benefit lineup with ringers – guys like Eddie Vedder, Dave Matthews and Willie Nelson, all of whom are Bridge vets – he gets knocked for playing it safe. When Young heads the other direction – as he did during this past weekend’s two Bridge concerts – people ask, “Where’s Vedder, Matthews and Nelson?”
The chatter on the Internet was far from favorable about the 2009 Bridge bill. That certainly factored into the less-than-stellar turnout – some 15,000 attended the first show, Saturday at the 22,000-capacity Shoreline Amphitheatre, while a smaller number was expected on Sunday.
What those at Shoreline saw was, by far, one of the most adventurous and eclectic lineups in recent Bridge history. It boasted a mix of hip young bands (indie-folk acts the Fleet Foxes and Monsters of Folk) and mega-star acts (Chris Martin of Coldplay, Jimmy Buffett and No Doubt), most of which were making their Bridge debuts. To go with that influx of new blood, these shows featured a few Bridge vets, notably Sheryl Crow, Monsters of Folk’s Conor Oberst and, of course, Young.
Unfortunately, that lineup, so exciting on paper, did not translate on Saturday to one of the better concerts in Bridge history. The 23rd annual acoustic music fundraiser, which supports the Hillsborough school for students with severe learning disabilities, was, at best, middle of the pack.
Two things kept Saturday’s show from being truly memorable. Most apparently, the first third of the seven-hour-plus show produced few musical highlights, as fans had to sit through a steady succession of acts that most knew nothing about. Even more troubling, however, was that the kind of star-studded collaborations that have made the Bridge such a legendary event were almost entirely missing.
Following Young’s traditional short opening set – which was really short on Saturday, consisting of just one song, “Comes a Time” – Gavin Rossdale took the stage for a 20-minute performance. Rossdale used to be famous for fronting the ‘90s Pearl Jam-wannabe Bush, but now is primarily known for being the husband of No Doubt’s Gwen Stefani – which likely explains why he was on the bill. Yet, Rossdale provided the only real highlights of the first third of the show as he delivered fine cover versions of Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide” and Prince’s "Sometimes It Snows in April.”
After that came Wolfmother, doing its blues-rock White Stripes impersonation, and then Fleet Foxes, providing no clues as to why the band’s brand of indie-folk is currently so popular. The Foxes were followed by the Monsters of Folk, an all-star indie singer-songwriter group consisting of Jim James from My Morning Jacket, Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis from Bright Eyes and M. Ward. Sadly, these Monsters came across as far less than the sum of their parts.
The way those acts were bundled together meant that most fans went more than two hours without hearing one familiar song. Of course, Young could’ve helped matters by making a guest appearance or two – in particular, it would have been nice for him to add some “Y” to the Foxes’ “CSN”-style vocal harmonies.
After all that, Sheryl Crow was perfectly positioned to deliver a fan-friendly set, yet she disappointed by only dishing out a handful of hits. It would be up to Jimmy Buffett, the mayor of “Margaritaville,” to really get the party started.
The 62-year-old singer-songwriter, in his long-overdue Bridge debut, accomplished that task in fine fashion as he and his seven-piece Coral Reefer Band rolled out tender versions of “A Pirate Looks at Forty” and “Come Monday” as well as the tropical anthems “Volcano” and “Margaritaville.” They also played a cover of the Grateful Dead’s “Scarlet Begonias” – which the most-famous Deadhead in attendance, basketball great Bill Walton, dubbed as “excellent.” (Buffett performed only on Saturday, while comedian Adam Sandler filled that time slot on Sunday.)
The good times kept on rolling as Chris Martin took the stage and, taking his place at the piano, proceeded to knock out mesmerizing takes on the Coldplay hits “Yellow,” “Clocks” and “Viva la Vida.” Yet, he faltered as he approached the finish line, closing his set with a questionable cover of the doo-wop ditty “Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine).”
Next up was the newly reunited No Doubt – which, as a ska-pop band, seemingly faced the biggest challenge in trying to translate its music to the acoustic setting. As it turned out, however, Gwen and the guys would provide Bridge School ’09 with its signature set, one that many fans agreed was even stronger than No Doubt’s own electrified headlining shows in the Bay Area back in July. Going the unplugged route, Orange County’s finest somehow managed to make “Spiderwebs,” “Just a Girl” and other classics sound even more poignant and powerful than they did in their original incarnations.
As expected, many flocked for the exits after No Doubt left the stage – the pop-rock crowd had seen what it had come for, Stefani and Martin, and wasn’t about to wait until midnight for Young’s closing set. Those fans missed a predictably fine performance by the host, who juggled such favorites as “Sugar Mountain” and “I am a Child.”
Coming full circle, Young also played a repeat of “Comes a Time,” which brought the majority of the Bridge cast back to the stage. It was a nice all-star moment, but one that underscored what was sorely missing from the rest of the show.]]>http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2009/10/25/review-bridge-school-benefit-2009/feed/20Review: Decemberists, Mould, Lip shine at Treasure Islandhttp://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2009/10/19/review-decemberists-mould-lip-shine-at-treasure-island/
http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2009/10/19/review-decemberists-mould-lip-shine-at-treasure-island/#commentsMon, 19 Oct 2009 18:35:46 +0000Jim Harringtonhttp://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2009/10/19/review-decemberists-mould-lip-shine-at-treasure-island/By Jim Harrington The curiously trendy “woodsmen” look, which consists of flannel shirts, shaggy hair, beards and knit caps, served hipsters well on Sunday at the third annual Treasure Island Music Festival. Sure, these wannabe lumberjacks still looked like close… Continue Reading →]]>By Jim Harrington
The curiously trendy “woodsmen” look, which consists of flannel shirts, shaggy hair, beards and knit caps, served hipsters well on Sunday at the third annual Treasure Island Music Festival.
Sure, these wannabe lumberjacks still looked like close cousins of the Unabomber – but, hey, at least they had a shot at staying warm on a chilly day in the Bay. Temperatures were in the mid-50s, but the racing winds made it feel at least 10 degrees colder. Fortunately, the music remained hot for much of the roughly 11-hour concert.
“I was worried that it would be too cold for people to (expletive) freak out,” Flaming Lips front man Wayne Coyne commented to the crowd. “It’s not too cold to freak out, is it?”
Fans were definitely ready to get their freak on – and no better master of ceremonies for the occasion than the Flaming Lips. The wild Oklahoma City band, touring in support of the recently released “Embryonic,” was the headliner on Sunday, leading an all-star indie-rock cast that included the Decemberists, Yo La Tengo, Beirut and Grizzly Bear. They followed MGMT, MSTRKRFT, the Streets and other electronic-music acts that held shop on Saturday, during the first half of the two-day festival, presented by Berkeley's Another Planet Entertainment and the Noise Pop organization. Both days sold out in advance, drawing approximately 10,000 fans per day.
Although only in its third year, this festival has become one of Northern California’s signature concerts – an event that fans really look forward to attending. What most differentiates this show from the dozens of other annual festivals is, of course, the setting: Treasure Island, a place that many Bay Area residents have never even visited, offers a simply unparalleled view. There’s something magical about listening to music while looking out at the water, both the Golden Gate and Bay bridges, and, most dramatically, the San Francisco skyline.
The picturesque setting definitely helped make Sunday’s midday dose of indie-folk more bearable, which is quite an accomplishment. Vetiver and Grizzly Bear, appearing one right after the other on the festival’s two stages, delivered absolutely nothing to help explain why indie-folk is currently so popular. (Expect more head-scratching to occur when Monsters of Folk and the Fleet Foxes appear at the Bridge School Benefit Oct. 24-25 at Shoreline Amphitheatre.) The Bear’s elevator-friendly vocal harmonies, which might appeal to someone that thinks Belle & Sebastian is just too raucous, were so twee that it’s hard to imagine the band members surviving the mean streets of their native Brooklyn.
Things improved from there on Sunday as Bob Mould, the alt-rock legend that gave us both Husker Du and Sugar, proved that there’s no age limit on rocking the house. The vocalist-guitarist just turned 50 on Friday, which makes him old enough to be some of these fans’ grandpa, but he can still teach all the young whippersnappers a thing or two about making music with fangs.
New Mexico’s Beirut followed and delighted the crowd with its intriguing mix of world music, Balkan folk and Southwestern sounds, performed on trumpets, accordion, sousaphone and other atypical rock instruments. Check Beirut out if you like DeVotchKa or Calexico.
The Walkmen and Yo La Tengo also produced intriguing sets, though not nearly as interesting as the Decemberists, who used the occasion to perform its latest CD, the indie-rock-opera “The Hazards of Love,” from start to finish. The high-concept piece was meticulously re-created, perhaps to even greater effect than when the band performed it back in May at the Fox Theater in Oakland, and further underscored this critic’s judgment that “The Hazards of Love” is 2009’s best record.
Then it was Flaming Lips time. Say what you want about the group, but it most certainly knows how to make an entrance. I can’t really go into detail in a family newspaper about the entrance – suffice it to say that it had something to do with childbirth.
Once they took the stage, Coyne climbed into a giant plastic ball and was rolled out into the audience. It’s an old Lips trick, but a good one – with the singer playing the part of a hamster as the outstretched hands passed him about for a few minutes. That was quickly followed by bursts of confetti and streamers, as well as exotic video elements and giant floating balloons.
Somewhere between all the visuals and theatrics, the band managed to play the type of artsy, prog-rock-inspired music that has made it an indie-rock favorite. In all, it served as an excellent way to close yet another successful, yet chilly Treasure Island Music Festival.]]>http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2009/10/19/review-decemberists-mould-lip-shine-at-treasure-island/feed/15No Doubt, Chris Martin, Jimmy Buffett set for Bridgehttp://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2009/09/14/no-doubt-chris-martin-jimmy-buffett-set-for-bridge/
http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2009/09/14/no-doubt-chris-martin-jimmy-buffett-set-for-bridge/#commentsMon, 14 Sep 2009 14:01:29 +0000Jim Harringtonhttp://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/?p=16403By Jim Harrington Two of pop music’s brightest stars _ Gwen Stefani and Chris Martin _ will take the stage during the 2009 Bridge School Benefit concerts at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View. Stefani will perform with her platinum-selling… Continue Reading →]]>By Jim Harrington

Two of pop music’s brightest stars _ Gwen Stefani and Chris Martin _ will take the stage during the 2009 Bridge School Benefit concerts at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View. Stefani will perform with her platinum-selling band No Doubt, which recently came through the Bay Area on a highly successful reunion tour, while Martin will leave his mates in Coldplay behind to play rare solo sets.

The concerts are set for 5 p.m. Oct. 24 and 2 p.m. Oct. 25. Tickets are $39.50-$150 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Sunday through 877-598-6659 and www.livenation.com.

Other top names scheduled to perform at both concerts include pop-rocker Sheryl Crow, indie-folk act Fleet Foxes, Australian hard-rockers Wolfmother, alt-rock icon Gavin Rossdale (Stefani’s husband) and, of course, the event’s organizer, Neil Young. The Monsters of Folk, the indie-pop dream team of Conor Oberst, Yim Yames, M Ward and Mike Mogis, will also appear on both days.

Each concert, however, boosts individual appeal. Notably, Parrotheads will want to purchase tickets for Saturday’s affair, which is when their leader, Jimmy Buffett, will make his long-awaited Bridge School debut. On Sunday, Buffett’s spot will be filled by popular comedian Adam Sandler, who recently starred in the Judd Apatow-directed film “Funny People.” Sandler is best known for such films as “Billy Madison” and “Happy Gilmore,” but he’s also a platinum-selling recording artist.

In all, the lineup should be taken as a breath of fresh air by Bridge regulars, who have long complained that Young relies too heavily on the same cast of performers, such as Pearl Jam and Dave Matthews. Of all the acts on the bill, only Crow, Young and Oberst (as Bright Eyes in 2005) have performed at past Bridge benefits. That number could change, however, since Young commonly adds more acts to the lineup as the dates draw closer.

These concerts are fundraisers for Hillsborough’s Bridge School, which aids students with severe learning disabilities.

]]>http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2009/09/14/no-doubt-chris-martin-jimmy-buffett-set-for-bridge/feed/19Review: Fleet Foxes in concerthttp://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2009/04/22/review-fleet-foxes-in-concert/
http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2009/04/22/review-fleet-foxes-in-concert/#commentsWed, 22 Apr 2009 09:23:32 +0000Jim Harringtonhttp://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2009/04/22/review-fleet-foxes-in-concert/By Jim Harrington Looking to get hip to the hot new sound that’s set to sweep the nation? If so, then you’d better start listening to “baroque harmonic pop jams.” That buzz-term-in-the-making is how the Fleet Foxes describe their twee… Continue Reading →]]>By Jim Harrington
Looking to get hip to the hot new sound that’s set to sweep the nation? If so, then you’d better start listening to “baroque harmonic pop jams.”
That buzz-term-in-the-making is how the Fleet Foxes describe their twee indie-rock sound. It doesn’t have quite the same ring as, say, “grunge” or “hyphy,” but it’s catching on at a remarkable rate – especially in our neck of the woods.
Over an eight-day stretch, the Fleet Foxes performed sold-out shows at the Fillmore and Palace of Fine Arts Theater, both in San Francisco, and then drew a near-capacity crowd to the Fox Theater in Oakland. All told, the young Seattle group brought in approximately 5,000 paying customers, an impressive tally over such a brief window in one single metropolitan area. What makes the accomplishment really remarkable is that the Fleet Foxes have yet to really register with the general public.
All of that combines to help make the Fleet Foxes one of 2009’s best stories. The group only has one full-length record – its eponymous debut, released in June by Pacific Northwest indie label Sub Pop – and no hit singles, yet its popularity among hipsters and tastemakers is still skyrocketing. The Foxes’ fleet ascent has been built on incredibly favorable word-of-mouth advertising.
It was easy to see what all the fuss was about during the group’s outing on Tuesday at Oakland’s fabulous Fox. Following an opening set by Blitzen Trapper, an Oregon act that is creating its own buzz, the Fleet Foxes took the stage and began to conjure up subtly charming folk-rock numbers that owe as least as much to classic CSN&Y as they do any more-modern act.
Yet, the vibe wasn’t all that retro. That’s because the band members are able to take the influences they wear on their sleeves and knit them into something decidedly new.
Most acts in the “Next Big Thing” sweepstakes of rock ‘n’ roll tend to be quite loud and, well, from the U.K., two things that probably factor into why the Foxes aren’t being championed as passionately by the press as such current flavors of the month as Glasvegas. One would probably have to go back to Belle & Sebastian, circa 1998, to find the last soft-sell indie band to so quickly make an impression on so many listeners.
The Fleet Foxes’ vocal work, especially that delivered by Robin Pecknold, was undeniably beautiful in Oakland. Yet, it was the wildly original arrangements of voice and music that really set this show apart. Every bit of the band’s self-described “baroque harmonic pop jams” sound came into play – the classical song structures, the deep allegiance to traditional folk music, the occasional wink to popular music, and the free-flowing approach that would register with jam-band fans.
Despite possessing several songs that would appeal to many different kinds of listeners, the Fleet Foxes don’t appear to be gunning very hard for mainstream success. They arrive onstage sporting the currently (and curiously) popular “woodsmen” look, which consists of shaggy hear and beards and plenty of flannel. And they go out of their way to promote themselves as anti-stars, with Pecknold even venturing so far as to chastise himself in front of the Oakland crowd for doing the “Dave Matthews look” while singing.
None of that, however, is working. The attendance records in the Bay Area, as well as in other major markets, contest that the Fleet Foxes are now one of the hottest indie-rock acts in the business. And it appears that the band’s star should continue to rise throughout 2009.
In other words, music fans should get real comfortable with hearing the term “baroque harmonic pop jams.”]]>http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2009/04/22/review-fleet-foxes-in-concert/feed/8